Tom Skevington
Tom Skevington
Tom Skevington
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Thomas Richard Skevington rode 15 winners under National Hunt rules between 1935 and 1946 in a career that was compromised by World War Two.
Thomas Richard Skevington rode 15 winners under National Hunt rules between 1935 and 1946 in a career that was compromised by World War Two.
His first success was gained at Chelmsford when he partnered a six-year-old gelding named Chestnut to a four-length victory in the Ingatestone Novices’ Optional Selling Hurdle on March 20, 1935. It was Chestnut’s first race of the season and he went on to win twice more that year, ridden both times by Frenchie Nicholson.
His first success was gained at Chelmsford when he partnered a six-year-old gelding named Chestnut to a four-length victory in the Ingatestone Novices’ Optional Selling Hurdle on March 20, 1935. It was Chestnut’s first race of the season and he went on to win twice more that year, ridden both times by Frenchie Nicholson.
Tom rode a career-best seven winners during the 1938/39 campaign, the last three of them on handicap hurdler Star Fish II, trained by John Cockton at Little Stukeley, near Huntingdon. It was at Huntingdon on Easter Monday that they won for the first time. They then won at Wenlock Hunt on May 5 – the last day’s racing ever held at that Shropshire venue – before returning to Huntingdon on Whit Monday to score for the third time.
Tom rode a career-best seven winners during the 1938/39 campaign, the last three of them on handicap hurdler Star Fish II, trained by John Cockton at Little Stukeley, near Huntingdon. It was at Huntingdon on Easter Monday that they won for the first time. They then won at Wenlock Hunt on May 5 – the last day’s racing ever held at that Shropshire venue – before returning to Huntingdon on Whit Monday to score for the third time.
Tom had just two winners in the 1939/40 season, the first of which was a handicap hurdle at Haydock Park on March 8, when his mount Giovanni dead-heated with Matt Hogan on Arctic Tern, who was conceding 19lb to Giovanni.
Tom had just two winners in the 1939/40 season, the first of which was a handicap hurdle at Haydock Park on March 8, when his mount Giovanni dead-heated with Matt Hogan on Arctic Tern, who was conceding 19lb to Giovanni.
He rode two more winners in 1941 before National Hunt racing was brought to a halt for the remainder of the duration of the war. He resumed his career when the sport returned and had two further wins, the last being Facilitate in the Marston Hurdle at Wetherby on March 8, 1946, beating Paul Dear, ridden by Bryan Marshall, by three lengths. That final win, his fifteenth, resulted in him losing his claim.
He rode two more winners in 1941 before National Hunt racing was brought to a halt for the remainder of the duration of the war. He resumed his career when the sport returned and had two further wins, the last being Facilitate in the Marston Hurdle at Wetherby on March 8, 1946, beating Paul Dear, ridden by Bryan Marshall, by three lengths. That final win, his fifteenth, resulted in him losing his claim.
Tom held a licence until the 1948/49 season but rode no more winners.
Tom held a licence until the 1948/49 season but rode no more winners.
Tom Skevington’s winners were, in chronological order:
Tom Skevington’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Chestnut, Chelmsford, March 20, 1935
1. Chestnut, Chelmsford, March 20, 1935
2. Agile, Haydock Park, December 3, 1937
2. Agile, Haydock Park, December 3, 1937
3. Jonquil, Fontwell Park, November 24, 1938
3. Jonquil, Fontwell Park, November 24, 1938
4. Discretion, Haydock Park, December 2, 1938
4. Discretion, Haydock Park, December 2, 1938
5. Agile, Haydock Park, December 3, 1938
5. Agile, Haydock Park, December 3, 1938
6. Jonquil, Sandown Park, February 4, 1939
6. Jonquil, Sandown Park, February 4, 1939
7. Star Fish II, Huntingdon, April 10, 1939
7. Star Fish II, Huntingdon, April 10, 1939
8. Star Fish II, Wenlock Hunt, May 5, 1939
8. Star Fish II, Wenlock Hunt, May 5, 1939
9. Star Fish II, Huntingdon, May 29, 1939
9. Star Fish II, Huntingdon, May 29, 1939
10. Giovanni, Haydock Park, March 8, 1940 (dead-heat)
10. Giovanni, Haydock Park, March 8, 1940 (dead-heat)
11. Jonquil, Fontwell Park, April 24, 1940
11. Jonquil, Fontwell Park, April 24, 1940
12. Jonquil, Plumpton, February 15, 1941
12. Jonquil, Plumpton, February 15, 1941
13. Noble King, Wetherby, March 8, 1941
13. Noble King, Wetherby, March 8, 1941
14. Bibury, Southwell, November 16, 1945
14. Bibury, Southwell, November 16, 1945
15. Facilitate, Wetherby, March 8, 1946
15. Facilitate, Wetherby, March 8, 1946
Tom's first win came on Chestnut at Chelmsford, March 20, 1935
Tom's first win came on Chestnut at Chelmsford, March 20, 1935
Tom and Giovanni were involved in a dead-heat at Haydock Park, March 8, 1940
Tom and Giovanni were involved in a dead-heat at Haydock Park, March 8, 1940
Tom's first of two victories on Star Fish ll at Huntingdon in 1939.
Tom's first of two victories on Star Fish ll at Huntingdon in 1939.